Corded vs Cordless Blinds: What Corded Blinds Are and When They Still Make Sense

Direct answer

Corded blinds are blinds or shades you raise, lower, or tilt by pulling a cord, a continuous loop, or a beaded chain. Cordless blinds move when you push or pull the bottom rail. Under the current US industry safety standard, new custom slatted blinds cannot have free-hanging cords, so corded operation now lives mostly on shades with tensioned loops.

Table of Contents

1. What Are Corded Blinds?

2. The Three Types of Corded Lift

3. Are Corded Blinds Legal? US Safety Rules

4. Why Do Corded Blinds Still Exist?

5. When Corded Is the Right Choice

6. When Cordless Is the Better Choice

7. Corded vs Cordless Side by Side

8. What Value Blinds Offers on Each Product

9. Frequently Asked Questions

Quick Summary

What Are Corded Blinds?

A corded blind uses a cord to move the slats or fabric. Pulling the cord lifts a set of internal lift cords that run through the slats or along the back of the shade. On slatted blinds, a second cord or a wand tilts the slats to angle the light.

Corded blinds are simple, the mechanism has few parts, and the cord lets you stop the blind at any height. The drawback is the cord itself: a hanging loop or free cord end is a strangulation hazard for young children, which is why US rules have narrowed what can still be sold.

The Three Types of Corded Lift

"Corded" covers three different mechanisms:

The difference matters for safety. A free-hanging pull cord can form a loop a child can get caught in. A loop or chain that is held taut against the wall or frame is much harder for a child to get caught in.

Are Corded Blinds Legal? US Safety Rules

Two sets of rules apply to corded window coverings sold for homes in the US.

Stock (ready-made) blinds. Since December 28, 2022, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission treats stock window coverings that fail the operating cord provisions of the ANSI/WCMA A100.1-2018 standard as a substantial product hazard. In practice, stock products must be cordless, have a short cord, or have an inaccessible cord.

Custom (made-to-measure) blinds. The CPSC also issued a mandatory rule for custom window coverings, but a federal appeals court vacated it in September 2023. The industry standard filled the gap: ANSI/WCMA A100.1-2022 applies to custom products made on or after June 1, 2024. It removes free-hanging operating cords and free-hanging tilt cords from custom products, and it bans continuous loops and bead chains on horizontal slatted blinds. Where corded operation is still allowed, the product must use a tension device, a retractable cord, or a rigid shroud.

The CPSC's own guidance is direct: the safest window coverings when young children are present are cordless. The agency has also reported that   nearly half of incidents involving children and corded window coverings resulted in death.

If you keep a corded shade, mount the tension device to the wall or window frame exactly as the instructions show. An unanchored tension device does not hold the loop taut.

Why Do Corded Blinds Still Exist?

Corded shades still sell for three practical reasons.

1. Price. On our roller and zebra shades, the beaded chain is included at no added cost, while the cordless lift is listed at $24.36 extra.

2. Reach. A cordless blind moves only when you reach the bottom rail. On a tall window, over a tub, or behind a kitchen sink, the bottom rail can sit out of reach when the shade is raised. A chain hangs within reach at all times.

3. Size. Cordless lift systems have size limits. Our cordless roller shades top out at 98 inches wide and 98 inches high, so a larger opening needs a different lift. Check the size limits listed for the chain and motorized options on the product page.

When Corded Is the Right Choice

Corded, meaning a tensioned loop or beaded chain on a shade, is a reasonable choice when all of these are true:

• No children aged eight or younger live in or regularly visit the home

• No pets that climb or chew sit near the window

• The window is tall, wide, or hard to reach

• You want the lowest price per window and motorization is not in the budget

Home offices, adult bedrooms, stairwell windows, and rooms with high windows are the usual fits.

When Cordless Is the Better Choice

Choose cordless when any of these apply:

• Children aged eight or younger live in or visit the home

• A crib, bed, sofa, or toy area sits near the window

• You want a clean window with nothing hanging down the side

• The bottom rail is easy to reach when the blind is fully raised

For tall or hard-to-reach windows in a home with young children, motorized lift removes the cord and the reach problem at the same time. See our motorized and smart shades.

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Corded vs Cordless Side by Side

What Value Blinds Offers on Each Product

We checked the lift options on our own product pages:

Upgrade prices are as listed on each product page at the time of this update. Our faux wood and aluminum blinds come cordless or motorized only. If you need a corded option, it will be a beaded chain on a roller, zebra, or woven bamboo shade.

Shopping for a home with young children or pets? Start with our   kid-safe and pet-safe collection  or the full   cordless collection  . Already decided on cordless? Our guide to  the best cordless blinds and what they cost  compares the styles, and   how to install cordless blinds   walks through mounting.

Frequently Asked Questions 

What are corded blinds?

Corded blinds are blinds or shades raised, lowered, or tilted with a pull cord, a continuous loop, or a beaded chain. The cord drives internal lift cords that move the slats or fabric.

Are corded blinds banned in the US?

No, but they are restricted. Stock window coverings must be cordless or have short or inaccessible cords. New custom slatted blinds cannot have free-hanging cords, loops, or bead chains, and under the industry standard, custom corded shades must use tension devices, retractable cords, or rigid shrouds.

Are beaded chain shades considered corded?

Yes. A beaded chain is a continuous loop, and safety standards treat it as an operating cord. On new custom shades it must be held taut by a tension device.

Are corded blinds cheaper than cordless?

Often, on shades. On our roller and zebra shades, the beaded chain is included and the cordless lift is listed at $24.36 extra.

Are corded blinds safe with pets?

A cord, loop, or chain can still catch a pet that climbs or chews near the window. Cordless or motorized lift removes that risk.